New York City, NY: Alander Mountain

Tag three mountains, including the highest point in Connecticut, on this 12.1-mile hike in Mt. Washington State Forest. Attractions include: pretty streamside camping, spectacular ridgeline hiking, fine mountain views, and a bounty of blueberries.

Trail Facts

Waypoints

Trailhead: Register if you're overnighting and pick up free trail map. Head straight across the meadow on the Alander Mountain Trail. Look for Hunts Pond on the L.

AML002

Location: 42.0868949890137, -73.4682006835938

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After a short section in the woods, you'll suddenly emerge to an open area with views of Alander Mountain ahead. In summer, veer R off the trail about 50 feet and scan the ground for low-bush blueberries. They're tiny but succulent; fill a bag to snack on or to mix into tomorrow's pancakes or oatmeal.

AML003

Location: 42.086296081543, -73.4702835083008

Cross Lee Pond Brook on small footbridge. Like Ashley Hill Brook, which you'll cross next, this stream eventually flows over Bash Bish Falls.

AML004

Location: 42.0864448547363, -73.4715728759766

Stay R at 3-way with the Charcoal Pit Trail, which is an optional shortcut on the return. This part of the trail follows an old road bed; you'll occasionally notice rotting road timbers poking up out of the dirt. On the R, note one of New England's ubiquitous stone fences--this is a good place for reading Robert Frost at night.

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AML005

Location: 42.0879516601562, -73.4738388061524

Veer R @ 3-way, staying on the Alander Mountain Trail. To the L is the Ashley Hill Trail, on which you'll return. You could reverse the direction, but I think it's more pleasant to get the big climb up Alander out of the way, then enjoy the long, shady downhill along Ashley Hill Brook and its wide, smooth trail.

AML006

Location: 42.0882186889648, -73.4749526977539

Cross Ashley Hill Brook on a small footbridge. This is a good place to tank up on water and take a pleasant breather before the 1-plus hour climb to Alander. You can also hiking quite a ways downstream, passing several excellent swimming holes (only waist-deep) and picnic spots along the way.

AML007

Location: 42.0922241210938, -73.4859313964844

Side trail to campsites. In the middle of a long uphill section, a blue-blazed path leads left about .5 mile to decent but not spectacular campsites. Camping is officially permitted only at two designated areas, this one and a nicer location along Ashley Hill Trail (which was closed in August 2005--call the ranger for an update).

AML008

Location: 42.0924644470215, -73.4945068359375

Cross seasonal stream that's often dry in summer. Look around and enjoy some of the most bucolic mature forest in the Berkshires.

AML009

Location: 42.0909461975098, -73.4968566894531

Good rest stop before continuing onto a steeper section of the climb to Alander. Stay R, following the blue blazes into a switchback.

AML010

Location: 42.0913391113281, -73.4992218017578

Sometimes there's water here, at a flat, righthand bend in the trail. Go L about 15 feet on a game trail to a small, spring-fed trickle.

AML011

Location: 42.091236114502, -73.5006256103516

Another seasonal water source.

AML012

Location: 42.0881462097168, -73.5032577514648

Skanky old cabin that gets more tenants than it's dank, dark, musty interior deserves. Camp here only in an emergency.

AML013

Location: 42.0877723693848, -73.5035095214844

Turn R at the T just 50 feet beyond the cabin at a sign that says "To Taconic Trail"; head uphill.

Summit of Alander Mountain. To the W are views of the Catskills High Peaks and the farms of Dutchess County. To the S, you can see the ridge that leads to Brace Mountain, the highest peak in that direction (bald on top), and Mt. Frissell (just to the L of Brace). You're now on the Taconic Trail, which runs from south of Brace all the way north to the Catamount Ski Area in Massaschusetts (see photo of trail sign). It's often windy up here, and sometimes crowded, so save your lunch for later in the hike, when the views get better and the crowds thin. But do spend a few minutes gathering blueberries, which grow all over the summit. Note: Make sure you avoid the other, blackish berries growing up here, which can be confused with the similarly sized blueberries (see photos for comparison). From here, return to WPT 13 to get on the Alander Loop Trail, which will reconnect with the Taconic Trail later; this diversion keeps you up on the ridge rather than dipping way down on the Taconic Trail, only to climb back up.

AML016

Location: 42.0873908996582, -73.5020599365234

View back to Alander and more blueberries.

AML017

Location: 42.0832176208496, -73.4999923706055

This section of trail is tight, almost tunnel-like, due to overgrown scrub oak and rhododendron. You may want gaiters and long sleeves here to avoid the scratching. Farther ahead, a trail crew has recently done excellent work to cut back the shrubs.

Turn L @ 3-way intersection back onto the Taconic Trail (white blazes). A small, hand-carved sign says "Gentz's Corner." Ahead, you'll briefly cross into New York as the trail winds through beautiful open forest and gradually climbs back towards the ridge on old carriage road.

AML020

Location: 42.0769805908203, -73.5049285888672

Fairly reliable water source, the first in several miles.

AML021

Location: 42.0724258422852, -73.5040740966797

Straight at 3-way with red-blazed Robert Brook Trail, which leads down to a parking lot on the New York side.

AML022

Location: 42.0712013244629, -73.501594543457

Photo of a grassy roadbed winding through mature beech, birch, and maple forest. There's little understory, mostly ferns, so the sight lines are great and the breeze is unimpeded. These roads are one of the things I love about New England, because there a sign that nature can reclaim a great degree of wilderness feeling, even after being logged or farmed. No doubt this area was heavily used a century ago, but now the only signs of that exploitation are a few stone walls and hiker-friendly roadbeds like this.

AML023

Location: 42.0700263977051, -73.4993667602539

Usually there's good water on the R.

AML024

Location: 42.0582542419434, -73.49658203125

Straight at 3-way; L is a shortcut to the Ashley Hill Trail, a good option if there's any sign of thunderstorm approaching the ridge.

AML026

Location: 42.0483627319336, -73.4941558837891

Bear R @ 4-way at trail sign pointing (the other way) to Mt. Frissell. You'll return to this junction after summitting Brace Mountain.

AML027

Location: 42.0443649291992, -73.4925918579102

Summit of Brace Mountain. Enjoy wraparound views of the gently-rounded peaks and ridges in the southern Berkshires, plus the Catskills and the pastoral landscape in the valley to the W. Frissell is the nearest "high" peak; Bear Mountain, the highest peak entirely in Connecticut, is just to the right and behind it. On Brace, someone has planted a windsock in the summit cairn; it almost always is straight out, thanks to the thermals that blow up the ridge from the west. Continue to South Brace, or retrace your steps to WPT 26 to continue the red-blazed loop.

AML028

Location: 42.0490951538086, -73.4893569946289

Straight @ unsigned 4-way; to the left is the Ashley Hill Trail. You'll return here after tagging Frissell.

AML029

Location: 42.0495414733887, -73.4874649047852

Tri-state marker dated 1898. From here, you climb rather steeply to Frissell.

AML030

Location: 42.0495452880859, -73.4837875366211

Holy *&^*%&^!!!!! I nearly stepped on the biggest rattlesnake I've ever seen, and the first I've seen in this area. I was chugging up the trail, which alternates between forest and open slabs of rock here, when I heard a sudden unmistakable rattle and looked up to see this beautiful but monstrous snake only two strides in front of me. It was easily four feet long and as thick around as my wrist or lower forearm, and it had a bright yellow belly, somewhat small head, and 7-section rattle. No doubt it was sunning itself on the rock when I came along. Fortunately, it seemed very sluggish, because it didn't give me more than that first rattle as it slithered slowly off the trail into the bushes. I waited a couple minutes before going by, really nervous that it would strike, or that its mate was nearby. Phew, neither happened, and I continued to Frissell-only to see the same snake in the same place only 10 minutes later on the way down! Ack, my heart was beating like crazy.

AML031

Location: 42.049690246582, -73.4828491210938

Highest point in Connecticut. This anticlimactic location is marked by a pile of rocks and a small metal benchmark. Perhaps that's appropriate, since the highest point in Connecticut is actually on the shoulder of a mountain (Frissell) whose peak is in Massachusetts. The highest peak that's entirely in Connecticut is Bear Mountain, which is visible through the trees about 5 trail miles away to the SW.

AML032

Location: 42.0494232177734, -73.4880447387695

Another rattler! Once again, despite my nerves being on edge and my eyes intently focused on the trail, I nearly stepped on it. That's because it looked just like a stick laying next to the trail--until I got close enough to see its tongue flicker. This guy was a bit smaller, but more sinister looking, and he immediately got defensive, coiling up into a ball in the middle of the trail and giving me a good, long rattle and hiss. I waited 5 minutes, but he wouldn't move, so I bushwhacked around, worried the whole time that he must have a nest of babies somewhere nearby. Needless to say, my heart was racing and I spent the rest of the day thinking every noise--and every stick that popped up and nicked my leg--was a rattlesnake coming to get me. Irrational, I know, but there's nothing quite like that rattling sound suddenly coming from your feet to change your entire perspective. Return to WPT 28 and turn R onto Ashley Hill Trail, beginning long descent to WPT 5.

First spot with guaranteed water since before you began climbing Alander. A few feet to the L is Ashley Hill Brook.

AML036

Location: 42.0782470703125, -73.4809417724609

Stay straight at 3-way with Charcoal Pit Trail. (Option: Go R here and save a bit of mileage while climbing up and down on a more rugged path.)

AML037

Location: 42.0829429626465, -73.4824905395508

Bear R @ Y next to outhouse. The trail to the L leads down to very nice official campsites next to Ashley Hill Brook (currently closed: August 2005), plus swimming holes and big sunning rocks. Continue to WPT 5 and turn R to return to your car.

AML025

Location: 42.0505867004394, -73.4947280883789

Veer R @ Y and follow the white blazes onto open slabs of granite with primo views and rest spots in about 50 feet. Lots of blueberries here, but keep an eye out for rattlesnakes, especially mid-morning and later, when they come out to bake in the sun. This area is known as a prime breeding ground, and a ranger once told a friend of mine that the largest eastern timber rattler on record was found here. That said, I hiked here probably 20 times over 10 years without ever seeing a snake--until this trip (keep going!).

This 25-mile plus hike climbs six significant peaks in the northern Catskills, accumulating about 18,000 feet of elevation gain and loss in steep, rocky terrain. This country looks and feel wild, and the views from its many lookouts easily rival those from the more-crowded high peaks.